The man responsible for much of the refurbishment of facilities along the non-tidal river is retiring after 38 years in civil engineering - and ten years on the Thames.

Paul Power has been responsible for the upgrading of locks in a programme that started in 2003 and continues this winter. The latest project for which he is responsible is the £700,000 repair and maintenance of Teddington barge lock.

He says the whole navigation infrastructure is now in fair to very good condition unlike 2003 when up to 38% was in poor or critical condition.

Waterways Manager Matt Carter said: "Paul is the person who has brought the Thames into the best condition it has ever been ever in my view.

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He has really turned the river around and he will be a great loss to the agency.We greatly value the time and service he has devoted to the river."

But Paul Power's connections with river will not end. He intends, among other plans, to spend more time pursuing his hobby of canoeing.